Jeffco Democrats saw some unusual action at their March 19 county assembly when the names of five county residents were put forward to run for the county commission seat in District 1 against incumbent Republican Libby Szabo.

Jeffco officials last week slammed proposed changes in election rules from the secretary of state’s office, saying moves toward requiring all counties to use the same election system would create an unfair monopoly.

Among Secretary of State Wayne Williams’ proposed changes is a proposal to certify only a single election system, Dominion Voting Systems, a change from the past, when counties have been able to choose among several vendors.

Local and national teachers unions made major donations to the campaign to recall three conservative members of the Jeffco school board, according to financial records ordered released by a state judge.

Recall critics have said donations from the National Education Association and the Jefferson County Education Association prove that union interests were a guiding force in the ousting of board members John Newkirk, Ken Witt and Julie Williams in the November election.

An ethics watchdog group has called for state campaign finance reform in the wake of the release of contribution figures from the Jeffco school district’s contentious recall election.

While any change to the Colorado Constitution, which specifies how elections are conducted, would require a statewide vote, Peg Perl, senior counsel for Colorado Ethics Watch, said Colorado legislators can take several steps to bring more transparency to local elections, including:

Ballot initiatives to create a single-payer health care system for Colorado and to eliminate an outdated reference to slavery in the state constitution were among those discussed at a town hall meeting June 27 at the Columbine Library.

Mary Parker, an independent candidate in state House District 22, hosted the first of four town halls, inviting activists for approved or prospective ballot initiatives, as well as any local political candidates, to speak.